ultrasonic testing - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

7/23/2019 Ultrasonic Testing - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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10/3/2015 Ultrasonic testing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasonic_testing 1/5

An example of Ultrasonic Testing (UT) on blade roots of a V2500 IAE

aircraft engine.

Step 1: The UT probe is placed on the root of the blades to be

inspected with the help of a special borescope tool (video probe).

Step 2: Instrument settings are input.

Step 3: The probe is scanned over the blade root. Inthis case, an

indication (peak in the data) through the red line (or gate) indicates

a good blade; an indication to the left of that range indicates a crack.

Principle of ultrasonic testing. LEFT: A probe sends a

sound wave into a test material. There are two

indications, one from the initial pulse of the probe, and

the second due to the back wall echo. RIGHT: A defect

creates a third indication and simultaneously reduces

the amplitude of the back wall indication. The depth of

the defect is determined by the ratio D/Ep

Ultrasonic testingFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ultrasonic testing(UT) is a family of

nondestructive testing techniques

based on the propagation of

ultrasonicwaves in the object ormaterial tested. In mostcommon UT

applications, very short ultrasonic

pulsewaves with center frequencies

ranging from 0.115 MHz, and

occasionally upto 50 MHz, are

transmitted into materials to detect

internal flaws or to characterize

materials. A common example is

ultrasonic thickness measurement,

which tests the thickness of the testobject, for example, to monitor

pipework corrosion.

Ultrasonic testing is often performed on steel

and other metals and alloys, though it can also

be used on concrete,wood and composites,

albeit with less resolution. It is used in many

industries including steel and aluminium

construction, metallurgy, manufacturing,

aerospace, automotive and othertransportation sectors.

Contents

1 History

2 How it works

3 Features

3.1 Advantages3.2 Disadvantages

4 Standards

5 See also

6 References

7 Further reading

8 External links

History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UT_principe.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UT_principe.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UT_principe.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UT_principe.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NDT_test_of_an_V2500_engine_blade_route.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NDT_test_of_an_V2500_engine_blade_route.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NDT_test_of_an_V2500_engine_blade_route.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NDT_test_of_an_V2500_engine_blade_route.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NDT_test_of_an_V2500_engine_blade_route.jpghttp://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UT_principe.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concretehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrosionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasoundhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-destructive_testinghttp://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotivehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospacehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concretehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrosionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasonic_thickness_measurementhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasoundhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-destructive_testinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UT_principe.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borescopehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bladehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbofanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircrafthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Aero_Engineshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V2500https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NDT_test_of_an_V2500_engine_blade_route.jpg


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At a construction site, a technician

tests a pipeline weld for defects

using an ultrasonic phased array

instrument. The scanner, which

consists of a frame with magnetic

wheels, holds the probe in contact

with the pipe by a spring. The wet

area is the ultrasonic couplant that

allows the sound to pass into the

pipe wall.

On May 27, 1940, U.S. researcher Dr. Floyd Firestone of the University of Michigan applies for a U.S.

invention patent for the first practical ultrasonic testing method. The patent is granted on April 21,

1942 as U.S. Patent No. 2,280,226, titled "Flaw Detecting Device and Measuring Instrument". Extracts

from the first two paragraphs of the patent for this entirely new nondestructive testing method

succinctly describe the basics of such ultrasonic testing. "My invention pertains to a device for

detecting the presence of inhomogeneities of density or elasticity in materials. For instance if a casting

has a hole or a crack within it, my device allows the presence of the flaw to be detected and its position

located, even though the flaw lies entirely within the casting and no portion of it extends out to thesurface. ... The general principle of my device consists of sending high frequency vibrations into the

part to be inspected, and the determination of the time intervals of arrival of the direct and reflected

vibrations at one or more stations on the surface of the part."

James F. McNulty of Automation Industries, Inc., then, in El Segundo, California, an early improver of

the many foibles and limits of this and other nondestructive testing methods, teaches in further detail

on ultrasonic testing in his U.S. Patent 3,260,105 (application filed December 21, 1962, granted July 12,

1966, titled Ultrasonic Testing Apparatus and Method) that Basically ultrasonic testing is performed

by applying to a piezoelectric crystal transducer periodic electrical pulses of ultrasonic frequency. The

crystal vibrates at the ultrasonic frequency and is mechanically coupled to the surface of the specimento be tested. This coupling may be effected by immersion of both the transducer and the specimen in a

body of liquid or by actual contact through a thin film of liquid such as oil. The ultrasonic vibrations

pass through the specimen and are reflected by any discontinuities which may be encountered. The

echo pulses that are reflected are received by the same or by a different transducer and are converted

into electrical signals which indicate the presence of the defec.

How it works

In ultrasonic testing, an ultrasound transducer connected to a

diagnostic machine is passed over the object being inspected.

The transducer is typically separated from the test object by a

couplant (such as oil) or by water, as in immersion testing.

However, when ultrasonic testing is conducted with an

Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) the use of

couplant is not required.

There are two methods of receiving the ultrasound waveform:

reflection and attenuation. In reflection (or pulseecho) mode,

the transducer performs both the sending and the receiving ofthe pulsed waves as the "sound" is reflected back to the device.

Reflected ultrasound comes from an interface, such as the back

wall of the object or from an imperfection within the object. The

diagnostic machine displays these results in the form of a signal

with an amplitude representing the intensity of the reflection

and the distance, representing the arrival time of the reflection.

In attenuation (or throughtransmission) mode, a transmitter

sends ultrasound through one surface, and a separate receiver

detects the amount that has reached it on another surface after

traveling through the medium. Imperfections or otherconditions in the space between the transmitter and receiver reduce the amount of sound transmitted,

thus revealing their presence. Using the couplant increases the efficiency of the process by reducing

the losses in the ultrasonic wave energy due to separation between the surfaces.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_timehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplitudehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_acoustic_transducerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasonic_sensorshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transducerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Michiganhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phased_array_ultrasonicshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weldinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipeline_transporthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ultrasonic_pipeline_test.jpg


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Nondestructive testing of a swing

shaft showing spline cracking

Features

Advantages

1. High penetrating power, which allows the detection of

flaws deep in the part.

2. High sensitivity, permitting the detection of extremely

small flaws.

3. Only two nonparallel surfaces need to be accessible.

4. Greater accuracy than other nondestructive methods in

determining the depth of internal flaws and the thickness

of parts with parallel surfaces.

5. Some capability of estimating the size, orientation, shape

and nature of defects.

6. Non hazardous to operations or to nearby personnel and

has no effect on equipment and materials in the vicinity.

7. Capable of portable or highly automated operation.

Disadvantages

1. Manual operation requires careful attention by experienced technicians. The transducers alert to

both normal structure of some materials, tolerable anomalies of other specimens (both termed

noise) and to faults therein severe enough to compromise specimen integrity. These signals

must be distinguished by a skilled technician, possibly requiring follow up with other

nondestructive testing methods.[1]

2. Extensive technical knowledge is required for the development of inspection procedures.

3. Parts that are rough, irregular in shape, very small or thin, or not homogeneous are difficult toinspect.

4. Surface must be prepared by cleaning and removing loose scale, paint, etc., although paint that is

properly bonded to a surface need not be removed.

5. Couplants are needed to provide effective transfer of ultrasonic wave energy between

transducers and parts being inspected unless a noncontact technique is used. Noncontact

techniques include Laser and Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMAT).

6. Inspected items must be water resistant, when using water based couplants that do not contain

rust inhibitors.

Standards

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

ISO 7963, Nondestructive testing Ultrasonic testing Specification for calibration block No. 2

ISO/DIS 11666, Nondestructive testing of welds Ultrasonic testing of welded joints Acceptance

levels

ISO/DIS 17640, Nondestructive testing of welds Ultrasonic testing of welded joints

ISO 22825, Nondestructive testing of welds Ultrasonic testing Testing of welds in austenitic

steels and nickelbased alloys

European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

EN 583, Nondestructive testing Ultrasonic examination
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Committee_for_Standardizationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Organization_for_Standardizationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMAThttp://-/?-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spline_(mechanical)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swing_shaft_spline_cracking.png


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Wikimedia Commons has

media related to Ultrasonic

flaw detection.

EN 13304, Non destructive testing Terminology Part 4: Terms used in ultrasonic testing

EN 1712, Nondestructive testing of welds Ultrasonic testing of welded joints Acceptance levels

EN 1713, Nondestructive testing of welds Ultrasonic testing Characterization of indications in

welds

EN 1714, Nondestructive testing of welds Ultrasonic testing of welded joints

EN 12223, Nondestructive testing Ultrasonic examination Specification for calibration block

No. 1is replaced by the EN ISO 2400:2012 "Nondestructive testing Ultrasonic testing

Specification for calibration block No. 1"EN 126681, Nondestructive testing Characterization and verification of ultrasonic examination

equipment Part 1: Instruments

EN 126682, Nondestructive testing Characterization and verification of ultrasonic examination

equipment Part 2: Probes

EN 126683, Nondestructive testing Characterization and verification of ultrasonic examination

equipment Part 3: Combined equipment

EN 12680, Founding Ultrasonic examination

EN 14127, Nondestructive testing Ultrasonic thickness measurement

See also

NonContact Ultrasound

Phased array ultrasonics

Timeofflight diffraction ultrasonics (TOFD)

Timeofflight ultrasonic determination of 3D elastic constants (TOF)

Internal rotary inspection system (IRIS) ultrasonics for tubes

EMAT Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer

ART (Acoustic Resonance Technology)

References

1. U.S. Patent 3,260,105 for Ultrasonic Testing Apparatus and Method to James F. McNulty at lines 3748 and

6072 of Column 1 and lines 14 of Column 2.

Further reading

Albert S. Birks, Robert E. Green, Jr., technical editors ; Paul

McIntire, editor. Ultrasonic testing, 2nd ed. Columbus, OH :American Society for Nondestructive Testing, 1991. ISBN 0

931403049.

Josef Krautkrmer, Herbert Krautkrmer. Ultrasonic testing of materials, 4th fully rev. ed. Berlin; New York:

SpringerVerlag, 1990. ISBN 3540512314.

J.C. Drury. Ultrasonic Flaw Detection for Technicians, 3rd ed., UK: Silverwing Ltd. 2004. (See Chapter 1

(http://www.silverwinguk.com/en/technical%20pdfs/ultrasonics_pdf/article_1.pdf) online (PDF, 61 kB)).

Nondestructive Testing Handbook, Third ed.: Volume 7, Ultrasonic Testing. Columbus, OH: American Society

for Nondestructive Testing.

Detection and location of defects in electronic devices by means of scanning ultrasonic microscopy and the

wavelet transform measurement, Volume 31, Issue 2, March 2002, Pages 7791, L. Angrisani, L. Bechou, D.Dallet, P. Daponte, Y. Ousten

Charles Hellier (2003). "Chapter 7 Ultrasonic Testing". Handbook of Nondestructive Evaluation. McGraw

Hill. ISBN 0070281211.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-07-028121-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://www.silverwinguk.com/en/technical%20pdfs/ultrasonics_pdf/article_1.pdfhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3540512314https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0931403049https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Society_for_Nondestructive_Testinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ART_(Acoustic_Resonance_Technology)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_acoustic_transducerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_rotary_inspection_systemhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time-of-flight_ultrasonic_determination_of_3D_elastic_constantshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time-of-flight_diffraction_ultrasonicshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phased_array_ultrasonicshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Contact_Ultrasoundhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ultrasonic_flaw_detection


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External links

Ultrasonic testing (http://www.ndt

ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Ultrasonics/cc_ut_index.htm)

Film about Russian ultrasonic testing unit ASK132 in Kalinin NPP

(http://www.atomndt.com/index.php?q=node/6)

Ultrasonic Testing on NDTWiki.com (http://www.ndtwiki.com/index.php/Ultrasonic_Testing)

Video on ultrasonic testing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM6XKvXWVFA), KarlsruheUniversity of Applied Sciences

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ultrasonic_testing&oldid=681100640"

Categories: Nondestructive testing Ultrasound

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